The Darkest Pleasure

by Jenika Snow

  "Ah. I see dear Kerian has told you some things."

  He walked to Christian and smiled, patting him on the back. There was a strong resemblance between the two. I wondered if they were related.

  "I assume you realise Kerian and I are one and the same. Although I know him very well, I am saddened that he knows nothing about me."

  He grabbed a chair and set it in front of me. His hand shot out, and before I could move my head away, he slid his finger through the blood dripping down my chin and licked it away. I couldn't help the disgust that crossed my features, but he didn't seem to care.

  "You're beautiful, young and petite. I can see why he'd take such a liking to you."

  He gestured for Christian to come over and whispered something. Christian nodded, left the room and returned with a glass of what looked like thick wine.

  "Thank you, son."

  I looked back and forth between the two men. When I assumed they were relatives, I had no idea they were father and son.

  "How is that possible?"

  "How is what possible? How can a creature like me father a child?"

  I didn't respond, just looked him dead in the eye.

  "Even vampires can make babies, darling."

  He looked at the portrait above the fireplace, a dreamy expression on his face. I too looked over at the picture, and finally realised who her eyes reminded me of. I turned to look at Christian.

  "She's your mother?” I whispered the words, not knowing if he heard me.

  "She was his mother. She was the love of my life,” the evil one replied.

  I didn't know what was going on, but I had a bad feeling the woman in the painting had something to do with it.

  "She was my mate, the woman who gave me my child. She was the love of my life, and if he hadn't taken her life, she would be by my side right now."

  I watched as he turned towards me, rubbing the gold band around his neck.

  "I don't understand.” I didn't know what he was talking about. My mind was still fuzzy, and I had a throbbing headache from the fall I'd taken. I looked at the floor, and suddenly it all clicked into place.

  "She was the one Kerian accidentally killed?” I was shocked, and I knew I had a surprised look on my face. “How can this be? How did you know where to find him? Or me, for that matter?” I had no idea what they planned to do with me, but I knew it wouldn't be good. An eye for an eye, he had said.

  "We're getting way ahead of ourselves. Let me introduce myself. I am Roman Drago, and of course you've met my charming son, Christian."

  He pointed to Christian and then the portrait.

  "That beautiful creature was my Evie."

  He ran his fingers along the band, clearly recalling a long-ago memory. “I gave her this ring as a token of my love for her, a symbol of how we would spend eternity together."

  I moved my hands, trying to free them, but I knew it was pointless. They had tied the knots like experienced sailors.

  "It was easy to find Kerian. When you're driven by revenge, driven to seek out the one that killed your love, it's easy to find what you seek. I won't lie, though; it took me a long time."

  He took a sip of the thick, red liquid, which I could now see wasn't wine.

  "You're a bonus. I searched for Kerian for years. I thought I had him several times, but he always disappeared.” He turned a dark look on her. “I saw him that night, holding my Evie in his arms, then he dropped her lifeless body to the ground and fled."

  "It was an accident. He feels sorrow for it every day of his life!"

  "Enough!"

  He yelled so loudly, I thought I felt the walls shake. He threw his glass into the fireplace and I could hear the liquid sizzle and pop, the glass shattered into a million pieces.

  "I don't care how he mourns for her! He took my heart from me, and now I must do the same. It's only fair. I can see he cares for you very deeply. I can smell him all over you, as if he has marked you as his own.” He looked me over with disgust. “Don't worry, though. I'll make sure he's here to see your death. I want him to feel it to his very soul, as I felt the loss of my wife.

  I wanted to cry, weep in front of this monster. He wasn't a monster because he was a vampire; he was a monster because of his cold heart. I knew he mourned deeply the loss of his wife, but to hurt me to get back at Kerian was cold-hearted. I didn't want Kerian involved in this, and I prayed he wouldn't find me. Maybe I'd die before he got to me, and he wouldn't have to witness my death. I couldn't forgive myself for causing any pain to Kerian. I couldn't help the tears that fell. I didn't bother appealing to Christian or Roman, because I knew it wouldn't do any good. If they were going to hurt me to get back at Kerian, my tears wouldn't garner any sympathy.

  "The sun has set, and I'm positive your dear Kerian has already realised you're missing and has found our note."

  I had forgotten about the note, but now that he mentioned it, I wondered what it had said to bring Kerian running. As if he'd read my mind, Roman answered my unspoken question.

  "My brilliant son left a note for Kerian. He was told not to fight us, because if he wanted you safe and unharmed, he would come prepared to die. Of course, what he doesn't know is that you both will die. Once he sees me kill you, I'll leave him in the sun and finish this."

  I sat in the chair, thinking about my time with Kerian. It seemed like a dream now, like my life before today had never existed. I stopped trying to wiggle my hands and feet free; it was pointless. Roman and Christian stood by the fire, speaking softly in that strange language. Christian stole several glances at me, and I made sure to give him the dirtiest look I could muster.

  "We only have a short while before the main event, so we must be on our way,” Roman said.

  They approached me, Christian lagging behind and looking very uncomfortable. Perhaps he was having second thoughts. He'd seemed odd, but I hadn't thought he was a killer.

  "So you don't give us any trouble."

  I looked at Roman and saw a cloth in his hands. It dawned on me they were going to drug me again. I struggled violently against my bonds. Roman approached and I twisted my head in every direction, but to no avail. He grabbed my face between two fingers. I winced at his strength.

  "I could make you do whatever I want to with just a thought. I could make you my slut if I chose. You'd best play along."

  My eyes opened wide as I felt his warm breath next to my ear.

  "Christian thought this the more humane route to go. I, on the other hand, have no problem with making the weaker species do my bidding."

  He kissed the side of my cheek before placing the rag over my nose and mouth. I held my breath, but I could only do that for so long. I remembered Kerian telling me vampires could control humans, and I was thankful Christian had at least opted for this route. I couldn't bear to be Roman's walking sex slave, if that was indeed what he would have done. I had a feeling he'd just said that to scare me into cooperating, but I wasn't going to take that chance. I breathed in the-sweet smelling chemical soaking the fabric and felt myself drift off into the blackness.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Fourteen

  * * * *

  The first thing I was aware of was the pounding in my head. It wasn't the ache from the bump where I had fallen. No, it was a pounding pain that encompassed my whole skull. I knew it was from the chemical, and I moaned as I tried to open my eyes. I was still strapped to the same chair, but I wasn't in the same room. I was in some kind of courtyard. Grass was soft and springy beneath my feet, and flowers bloomed all around. Stone walls surrounded me, but when I looked up, I noticed there was no roof. Above me was the open night sky, the starry blackness illuminated by the bright, round moon. The moon was so big and bright, it was like the sun. I could see fairly clearly, but was unnerved by the dark shadows in the corners of the courtyard. I knew Roman lay in wait there, could feel his eyes on me. I wondered how they'd gotten me here, but assumed it was another room in the same place.

&n
bsp; "Where am I?” My voice sounded hoarse to my ears and faint, as if I had just woken from a deep sleep.

  "My home."

  I heard Roman's voice and looked around, trying to place it. It seemed to come from everywhere.

  "Miles from your home. I bought it when I found Kerian."

  Roman's voice was soft. He was speaking to me as if we were having a friendly conversation.

  "It was hard, you know, being here, so close to him, and not taking care of this sooner. I had to hide, to bide my time. As you can see, it was well worth it. It was tedious work, covering up the bodies that accumulated from my feeding, but my wonderful son always lent a helping hand."

  He laughed, and I cringed from the sound. I pictured a slew of bodies at his feet, a wicked smile pasted across his blood-soaked mouth. He was nothing like Kerian; he was the creature nightmares were made of.

  "He'll be here soon. The directions on the note took him a bit out of the way. Just enough time to get acquainted with you and get things settled."

  I watched as he stepped out of the shadows and walked towards the arched stoned entrance. He stopped and turned back, smiling.

  "I'll be right back. Now, don't go anywhere."

  Don't go anywhere? Was he serious? Vampires had the lousiest sense of humour. After I heard him leave, I looked and listened for Christian. All I could hear was the sounds of the night creatures and the wind blowing through the leaves of the trees. In any other situation, I would have loved a place like this, but now, it was the most horrendous spot imaginable. I looked at the night sky and felt a light breeze caress my face, like Kerian's fingers skimming over my flesh. I felt tears run down my cheeks before I realised I was crying. I had no idea what they planned for me, but I knew it would be just me. There was no way I'd let them harm Kerian, and if I had to sacrifice myself in order to save him, I would.

  I sat in that chair for what seemed like hours. My body felt like it had gone numb. I could feel blood dripping down my hands from trying to loosen the ropes. My wrists burned, the rope fibres weaving themselves into my flesh. I pushed the pain aside because I knew what would come would be far more painful. I heard a noise and looked in that direction. I was stunned.

  Kerian ran through the stoned entrance and searched frantically around the courtyard. He was moving so fast he passed by me without even noticing.

  "Kerian!"

  I meant it to be a yell, but what came out was more like a whimper. His head whipped towards me and our eyes locked. I tried frantically to get the ropes loose, but all that did was dig them further into my open wounds. I winced. Kerian was in front of me in the next second, cutting through the ropes so quickly it only took a second. I wanted to cry with happiness, but I knew we weren't free yet. I knew this was a trap, and it was only a matter of time before Roman and Christian showed themselves. He took my wrists in my hand and brought them to his lips for a gentle kiss. My tears landed on his hands and he looked into my face. He brought his thumb up and stroked the moisture off my skin before lightly tracing the edge of my split lip. I saw his face turn into a dark mask as he looked from my lip to my wrists.

  "He did this to you?"

  I didn't recognise his voice, and frankly, it scared me.

  "Did he?"

  I stared at him. “It wasn't Christian."

  He knitted his eyebrows and sniffed the air. I saw confusion wrap around him as he stood and took me with him. He scooped me into his arms before I could protest.

  "How did you get here?"

  "They drugged me."

  "Who?"

  He looked down at me with heart-breaking tenderness. “When I found you had been taken, I felt as if my heart had been ripped from my chest. My soul was shattered, but I vowed I'd find you."

  "I knew you would."

  I was about to tell him everything, to warn him, when I heard dark words.

  "I'm so glad you could join us."

  Roman's voice shot through the night like a bullet. I shook at the sound of it. Kerian lowered me to the ground and put me behind him. “Who are you?"

  I could hear the confusion in Kerian's voice, and gripped the back of his shirt. Roman laughed. He seemed amused by Kerian's question.

  "You killed my beloved, the mother of my child. And so now I shall kill what you hold most dear."

  Roman looked at me and smiled triumphantly. Kerian's grip on my forearm tightened. His body had gone tense, and I knew he finally realised who he was facing.

  "Your beloved?"

  "You drained her dry and left her body to rot by that creek. I was to meet her there. She was to become mine for all eternity that night, join me in the afterlife and walk by my side. She was to become like me. You stole my future. I was there when you dropped her body on the ground as if it were nothing. I should have killed you then."

  "It was an accident. I regret it to this day."

  I wanted to comfort Kerian so badly, wanted to take his pain away, wanted to claw Roman's eyes out for even daring to make Kerian so regretful.

  Roman's voice radiated intense anger. I tried to step in front of Kerian to absorb it. I wasn't a courageous person, but I would do anything to protect him. Kerian's arm shot out and kept me behind him.

  "Your little one is daring. Let her in front of you and let's get this over with."

  I heard Kerian growl deeply and felt the vibrations down to my toes.

  "You won't touch her. This is between you and I, and we'll finish this if that's what you wish."

  "Kerian?” I whispered.

  "Be still, my love."

  I knew it wasn't true. “He wants me. Let him have me, and then you can go free."

  Kerian looked down at me with such anger and sorrow that I wanted to weep all over again. Or maybe I had never stopped.

  "Without you, I am nothing. I won't let him harm you."

  I rested my head on the back of his forearm and let my tears soak his shirt. “I love you; no matter what happens, remember that."

  "And I love you. Don't worry, darling, everything will be fine."

  "This really is a sweet moment, but I grow tired and as you can see, the sun will rise shortly. Time is of the essence."

  Before I could blink, Roman had thrown Kerian away from me. Kerian's body slammed into the side of the stone wall with a horrifying crunching sound. I screamed and looked at Roman. He wrapped his hands around my neck and smiled. I turned my head as far as I could and looked at Kerian. His body lay at an awkward angle, and I knew from the crunching sound I'd heard that he had broken bones. Roman squeezed my throat, but not so much that I couldn't breathe. I was able to suck in a little air, but the act was hard and laboured. I don't know why he didn't just finish it, but then it hit me. He wanted Kerian fully aware when he killed me. Kerian started to move and I heard his curses and grunts. Roman's hands tightened and I clawed at the flesh shackle stopping me from getting oxygen. I tried to suck in much-needed air, but when I saw stars pop into my vision, I knew I was getting close to the end. I was no match for Roman or his strength, and stopped fighting altogether. I dropped my arms and let my body go limp as I waited for the end.

  I seemed to be floating down, as if I were weightless in space. My body landed on something hard and I sucked in a big breath of air. My lungs burned and my throat hurt, but it was a wonderful feeling. I didn't know what happened, but I knew somehow, some way, Roman hadn't killed me. I pulled myself off the ground and my eyes grew wide. In front of me stood Roman and Christian, but not the father and son duo I had seen earlier. Christian had his hands wrapped around Roman's neck. Anger poured off Christian, and he yelled at Roman in the unfamiliar language. Two big arms wrapped around me from behind and I welcomed the feeling. I knew they were Kerian's, I could tell his touch blindfolded. I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I love you.” My voice was strangled and no more than a whisper.

  "And I you."

  He set me aside as he walked over towards the men. I saw two bodies darting around, but they were s
o fast, they were merely streaks in the night. I heard cracks and crunches, but I couldn't see them clearly.

  "Christian, stop."

  I was surprised Kerian's voice stopped the two men. I saw blood dripping from various wounds on Christian's body. Roman stopped a few feet away, not a single scratch on him.

  "I knew I should have gotten rid of you from the beginning. The only reason I kept you around was because you were part Evie."

  I saw the hurt in Christian's eyes at his father's words. I didn't know why Christian had pulled Roman off me, but I was thankful nonetheless.

  "This is between you and me. Let's finish this."

  Kerian's deep voice was like a beacon of light in the darkness. Roman looked towards him and sneered before spitting something out in that strange language. To my surprise, Kerian answered him in the same tongue. The two argued about something before Christian turned towards me with downcast eyes and left the courtyard. Kerian walked closer to Roman and stopped in the centre of the courtyard. Roman laughed and removed his jacket, tossing it to the side. I didn't know what they had planned, but knew one of these two vampires wouldn't survive the fight. I looked into the sky again and saw pink and yellow start to coat the horizon. Many corners were still shadowed, and I prayed they stayed that way to give Kerian protection. I wasn't about to see the one I loved die tonight.

  My eyes were still on the sky when I heard deep grunts. I returned my attention to Kerian. He and Roman were moving so fast, I had a hard time distinguishing one from the other. I wanted to run and help him, do something, anything, but I knew I would just be in the way. There was no way I could compete with their strength. I could see blood on the ground, but couldn't tell whom it came from. They stopped and Kerian's fist slammed into Roman's nose. I winced at the sound of crunching bone and heard Roman's blood splatter to the ground. He cursed and spit out a mouthful of the red liquid before smiling a bloody smile. He ran his tongue over his lips, making smacking noises when he was done. Roman charged after Kerian so fast, it was as if he flew. I watched as Kerian did the same until their bodies slammed together in mid-air. Kerian opened his mouth and I saw his sharp fangs shoot out. He bit into Roman's forearm and I was pleased when I heard Roman yell a guttural sound. I covered my mouth to muffle my gasp as Roman's nails grew to long points. He swiped them through the air and then sliced through the skin on Kerian's face like scissors through paper. My heart was pounding so hard, it was deafening.